Recruitment of Four-Star About to Heat Up

Brian Dohn

12/24/2010

Downingtown East (Exton, Pa.) four-star running back Drew Harris is one of the region's top class of 2012 prospects. He holds a pair of offers from schools that have something in common with Harris. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Harris spoke to ScarletReport.com about his recruitment, which conference he likes the best at this time, and much more.

Downingtown East High (Exton, Pa.) running back Drew Harris's recruitment should explode in January.

After a strong junior season in helping the Cougars to the district quarterfinals, the 6-foot-1, 195-pound Harris is holding junior day invites from the likes of Rutgers, Tennessee, Miami and Florida.

"I only have offers from where I visited, and that is Rutgers and South Carolina," Harris said. "With the season, I got a lot more letters from schools on the west coast, the midwest."

Rutgers has a tie to Downingtown East, landing a player in the 2010 and 2011 classes in defensive lineman Taj Alexander and tight end Tyler Kroft, respectively.

"I actually just talked to Taj, and he was telling me about the whole college experience in general, and not just Rutgers," Harris said. "He said Rutgers is a good place, and they work hard."

Harris hasn't given a lot of thought to the recruiting process yet, although he acknowledged players like Alexander and Kroft have been giving him nuggets of input about the process.

He also isn't sure about location, but did say there is a conference that has his eye.

"I like the schools in the SEC," Harris said. "I feel like their conference is tough, and its high speed, and if you have a chance to go to the NFL, then you're already used to the increased speed."

While looking at which junior days to attend, Harris will have to balance it with his indoor track schedule. It is his first season running indoors, and he is targeting the 55 meters and the 4 X 200 meters.

"It's just to improve my acceleration and to stay in good shape," Harris said. "Plus, we have our lifting programs, so it makes sense."

Finally, Harris has given thought to when he would like to make a decision, but it won't be any time soon because of the NCAA's new rule, which restricts schools from extending written offers until Aug. 1 of a recruit's senior season.

"My family is pretty much good with anywhere I want to go, but I will look to them for guidance," he said. "I don't think it will be wise because I can't get the written offers until August, so I'm just going to wait."